I'm sure in posting this I'm showing some level of ignorance -- I post in hopes that someone can help me rectify that.

I have recently started reading Thanissaro Bhikkhu's "The Buddhist Monastic Code I" and on page 39 came across a brief summary of some texts / chants that must be learned by one intending to fully ordain. I'm having a little trouble finding references online to "The Four Bhanavaras," and am curious if anyone knows anything more about this that could help me identify them in case I wish to read through them at some point.

bhanavara means "recitation section", while a bhanaka is a reciter; "dighabhanaka, majjhimabhanaka", and so forth, if I understand correctly.

"And how is it, bhikkhus, that by protecting oneself one protects others? By the pursuit, development, and cultivation of the four establishments of mindfulness. It is in such a way that by protecting oneself one protects others.

"And how is it, bhikkhus, that by protecting others one protects oneself? By patience, harmlessness, goodwill, and sympathy. It is in such a way that by protecting others one protects oneself.- Sedaka Sutta [SN 47.19]

are you sure it is that page?I have a PDF version and only see things relevant to taking dependence.

bhāṇavāra is a section of the scriptures, containing 8,000 letters, but I do not know what you could be refering to precisely other than sections of the ordination, of which I am doubtful due to its meaning? if you could quote the part you are referring to as BMC1 & 2 do not seam to have this word in it.

He who knows only his own side of the case knows little of that. His reasons may be good, and no one may have been able to refute them. But if he is equally unable to refute the reasons on the opposite side, if he does not so much as know what they are, he has no ground for preferring either opinion … ...He must be able to hear them from persons who actually believe them … he must know them in their most plausible and persuasive form.John Stuart Mill

He who knows only his own side of the case knows little of that. His reasons may be good, and no one may have been able to refute them. But if he is equally unable to refute the reasons on the opposite side, if he does not so much as know what they are, he has no ground for preferring either opinion … ...He must be able to hear them from persons who actually believe them … he must know them in their most plausible and persuasive form.John Stuart Mill

Cittasanto wrote:if you do a search you will find it, but it is my understanding that these chants are not standard and different monasteries have different texts included, and are also known as Parita chants.

Interesting indeed.

When I first saw "The Four Bhanavaras," I assumed it was a four-volume scriptural text.

I did find a list of Parita chants, a couple of which I already know and others I've read but not committed to memory. It is fair to say that this is what is what BMC1 is referring to, at least in part, as "The Four Bhanavaras?"

When I first saw "The Four Bhanavaras," I assumed it was a four-volume scriptural text.

I would agree that that is a good assumption, but remember that this is dealing with the commentary literature, so a specific understanding would be meant not necesarily an understanding which all agree on as BMC1 notes I will swing back to this in a moment or two.

This definition of learned is not universally accepted, and some traditions have reworked it. As this is another area where different Communities have different interpretations, the wise policy is to adhere to the practice followed in one’s Community, as long as it follows the basic requirements in the Canon, mentioned above.

I did find a list of Parita chants, a couple of which I already know and others I've read but not committed to memory. It is fair to say that this is what is what BMC1 is referring to, at least in part, as "The Four Bhanavaras?"

Undoubtedly the best known collection of Buddhist texts in Sri Lanka is theCatubhàõavàrapàëi, the Text of the Four Recitals.1 On any given day of the year onewould not have to go very far to find a complete recital of these texts being made,usually by monks, in an all-night sitting, as the Buddhist community regards such arecital as being particularly auspicious, and believes it brings safety, peace, and wellbeingin its wake.

NOTEIn Sinhala the book is also known as the Piruvànà Pot Vahanse (The VenerableRecitation Book); and the Mahà Pirit Pota (The Book of the Great Safeguards).

personally regarding "learning" (just to swing back) I would say the minimum requisite for "learning" (regarding this definition of this term) would be the same for not knowing the rules being an excuse for breaking them as found in pācittiyā 73[quote="page 373 of BMC1 pdf]To summarize the Vibhanga: If a bhikkhu—when the recitation of the Patimokkha comes to a rule he has violated—tries to excuse himself through the sort of pretence cited in the rule, he immediately incurs a dukkata if he has already listened to the Patimokkha in full three times or more.[/quote]so personally I believe the minimum for learning regarding the scriptures would be hearing four of the collections in full three or more times (as a strict interpretation) although seeing as the collections we have now in relatively new and the arrangement was different at one time (one of the chapters of Sn -i believe to be the eights???) is mentioned within the canon) it may be wise to be lenient with how much learning is actually required, and play on the safe side of knowing a selection such as the ones you quoted. so long as it met a wide enough range of teachings & length. I could say more because I feal the subject of that term is valuable and nuanced more than I have expressed here.

He who knows only his own side of the case knows little of that. His reasons may be good, and no one may have been able to refute them. But if he is equally unable to refute the reasons on the opposite side, if he does not so much as know what they are, he has no ground for preferring either opinion … ...He must be able to hear them from persons who actually believe them … he must know them in their most plausible and persuasive form.John Stuart Mill